Sudden death of sex abuse accused

The case against 42-year-old Jason Garoidge Hynds was due to be mentioned at Downpatrick Crown Court on Tuesday - but his two alleged victims had to be supported by family and friends after hearing the news that Hynds had died suddenly.One victim said outside court that Hynds had "taken the easy way out."Hynds, from the Downpatrick Road in Strangford, had been due to be tried on a total of 25 sex crimes, including rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, gross indecency and inciting sexual activity with a child, all alleged to have occurred over an eight year period from 1 January 2004 until 27 December 2012 - including two offences which took place over Christmas 2012.A police spokesperson issued a statement which read: "Police are currently attending a report of a body found at residential premises in the Downpatrick Road, Strangford area this afternoon."Enquiries are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the incident and there are no further details at this stage."Hynds' trial was scheduled to start next Monday.CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)